Carina DiGratia Shephard longs to leave behind the painful memories represented by the town of Crystal, Colorado, and start anew in the California vineyards of her youth. With Quillan bent on proving his devotion, Carina dares to open her heart to this rogue husband who has brought both pain and...  more

Carina DiGratia Shephard longs to leave behind the painful memories represented by the town of Crystal, Colorado, and start anew in the California vineyards of her youth. With Quillan bent on proving his devotion, Carina dares to open her heart to this rogue husband who has brought both pain and passion--and together they attempt to resurrect the tattered remains of their relationship and create a marriage where love truly reigns. Yet the journey itself and their arrival at the DiGratia estate are not what they expect. Rocked by a confrontation with the past and shunned by the entire family, Quillan faces yet more rejection in his life. But his determination to prove his worth will be tested beyond what any of them had imagined....

All antiques dealer Abigail Timberlake Washburn wanted was to find a perfect gift for her darling (if not altogether together) mama Mozella's birthday. She never expected her online purchase of an exquisite, seventeenth-century rosewood linen chest to place her in federal custody, accused of...  more

All antiques dealer Abigail Timberlake Washburn wanted was to find a perfect gift for her darling (if not altogether together) mama Mozella's birthday. She never expected her online purchase of an exquisite, seventeenth-century rosewood linen chest to place her in federal custody, accused of trafficking in illegal ivory! Then insult is heaped on her injury when she's forced to turn to her lawyer-snake ex, Buford, to spring her -- since ex-cop /current hubby Greg's "good ol' boy" contacts don't happen to include any feds. Abby may be small in stature, but she's a force to be reckoned with when riled -- and she's determined to root out the real smugglers who she blames for her recent indignities. But in her zeal to stick it to the elephant eliminators who have invaded her beloved Charleston, Abby might just land herself and mama alike up to their pearly whites in lethally hot water!

Spring in Tinker's Cove, Maine, finds local reporter Lucy Stone wishing she were digging in her garden instead of languishing in her office at the Pennysaver newspaper. But flowerbeds will have to wait when Mother's Day rings in a feud between two neighborhood moms-and the fallout is...  more

Spring in Tinker's Cove, Maine, finds local reporter Lucy Stone wishing she were digging in her garden instead of languishing in her office at the Pennysaver newspaper. But flowerbeds will have to wait when Mother's Day rings in a feud between two neighborhood moms-and the fallout is fatal... Two of her four kids may be out of the nest, but Lucy knows only too well that mothering is a lifetime commitment. At least she gets to kick back and enjoy a fancy Mother's Day brunch with her brood-that is, before the festivities are interrupted by a nasty scene courtesy of Barbara Hume and Tina Nowak. Opposites in every way, the only thing these mean moms have in common is the need to best each other at every turn, using their teenage daughters as pawns in elaborate games of one-upsmanship... The hostilities only escalate when Bar and Tina team up to host an after-prom party for local teens. Lucy-persuaded to participate so she can keep an eye on her own daughter, Sara-has a front row seat for the fireworks. But even after witnessing the women's claw sharpening rituals, she never expects to see actual blood spilled-until Tina is shot dead on the public tennis court, right in front of Lucy. Having witnessed Tina's death, Lucy naturally expects to cover it for the Pennysaver, but when her boss snatches the story, she's relegated to backing him up instead of taking the lead. It's an exercise in frustration, especially since Lucy can shake neither the image of Tina's last moments nor the suspicion that the evidence against prime suspect Bar isn't as cut and dried as it seems... Lucy is determined to unravel the close-knit knot of suspects, even if she doesn't get the byline. But when the threads threaten to entangle one of her own, Lucy will come face-to-face with a killer who has a thing or two to learn about motherly love...

Janis Harrison's gardening mysteries combine a popular "cozy" pastime with a delightfully populated small Missouri town and juicy mysteries. In her fourth outing, Bretta Solomon has been hired along with a few other River City business owners to put together the town's wedding of the year. But...  more

Janis Harrison's gardening mysteries combine a popular "cozy" pastime with a delightfully populated small Missouri town and juicy mysteries. In her fourth outing, Bretta Solomon has been hired along with a few other River City business owners to put together the town's wedding of the year. But when the landscaper responsible for the nuptial's setting and the bride's hairdresser both die suspiciously on the same day, Bretta can't help but think there's something more sinister in the air than love and marriage. It's up to her to figure out just exactly what's going on before the guests arrive for the big event, and with Janis Harrison at the controls it's sure to be another fantastic outing in an admirable series.

River City, Missouri, florist Bretta Solomon was looking forward to her day off from her busy flower shop. She wants to relax, enjoy the gorgeous summer day, and attend the picnic and open house being given by her friends Dan and Natalie Parker, the owners of Parker Greenhouse, a big and varied...  more

River City, Missouri, florist Bretta Solomon was looking forward to her day off from her busy flower shop. She wants to relax, enjoy the gorgeous summer day, and attend the picnic and open house being given by her friends Dan and Natalie Parker, the owners of Parker Greenhouse, a big and varied operation that also specializes in breeding orchids. That's what she's looking forward to, that is, until her second in command at the Flower Shop comes down with a sinus infection and Bretta is forced to spend her free day taking care of the flower arrangements for a funeral. And so she already has death on her mind when she and her father arrive at the Parker Greenhouse in the late afternoon for the rest of the festivities. What a coincidence-it's not long before death is the main event at the picnic, and a violent death at that. One of the greenhouse employees is discovered-by Bretta's father, no less-lying in a pool of blood on a dimly lit patch of lawn next to a beautiful garden. Because Bretta knows the greenhouse staff so well, both the sheriff and the Parkers want her help in figuring out who could be behind such a brutal crime. Once again, Bretta is in the thick of things in this charming, delightful cozy mystery series from Janis Harrison.

River City, Missouri, florist Bretta Solomon is happy to spend an occasional day off with her helper, Toby, a slow-witted young man whose mother died from a terminal illness, leaving him on his own. Everyone in town, including Bretta, takes extra care to make sure Toby is doing okay. However,...  more

River City, Missouri, florist Bretta Solomon is happy to spend an occasional day off with her helper, Toby, a slow-witted young man whose mother died from a terminal illness, leaving him on his own. Everyone in town, including Bretta, takes extra care to make sure Toby is doing okay. However, today, before Bretta can relax, she must fulfill another promise: her father's new -- and younger -- girlfriend wants to redecorate Bretta's home. Bretta is less than thrilled about the task ahead. But the unexpected news that Toby has been killed by a swarm of killer bees deliberately planted in his home puts decorating on the back burner. Determined to find out the truth behind Toby's murder, Bretta is once again in the thick of things in this charming, delightful cozy mystery series from Janis Harrison.

As her daughter’s wedding day approaches, Sarah McClure reflects upon Elm Creek brides past and present -- the traditions they honored, the legacies they bequeathed, the wedding quilts that contain their stories in every stitch. Unexpectedly, Caroline confides, “I wish I had a...  more

As her daughter’s wedding day approaches, Sarah McClure reflects upon Elm Creek brides past and present -- the traditions they honored, the legacies they bequeathed, the wedding quilts that contain their stories in every stitch. Unexpectedly, Caroline confides, “I wish I had a wedding quilt, one I made myself.” Sarah yearns to grant her fervent wish, but even the most talented novice would be daunted by the task of stitching, mere days before the wedding, a worthy symbol of the couple's bonds of love, commitment, trust, and hope for the future. Turning to her cherished friends, the Elm Creek Quilters, Sarah asks them to pool their creative gifts. As the women stitch, their memories render a vivid pastiche of family, friendship, and love in all its varieties.

With the nation in the throes of Prohibition, Rosa Diaz Barclay unwittingly discovers that her husband, John, has given over the duties of their Southern California rye farm in favor of armed bootlegging. Fearing the safety of her four beloved children, Rosa flees, with little more than a...  more

With the nation in the throes of Prohibition, Rosa Diaz Barclay unwittingly discovers that her husband, John, has given over the duties of their Southern California rye farm in favor of armed bootlegging. Fearing the safety of her four beloved children, Rosa flees, with little more than a suitcase filled with John’s ill-gotten gains and her heirloom quilts. Accompanying her is Lars, a good but flawed man who is the mother of two of her children. Under assumed names, Lars and Rosa hire on at a Sonoma County vineyard, seeking not only refuge from danger, but convalescence for two of the children, who suffer from a mysterious wasting disease. The devotion of the Italian-American community to the craft of viticulture inspires Rosa to acquire a vineyard of her own, even as she discovers firsthand its inherent hardships and dangers winemakers face in such turbulent times.

Twenty eight year old Kelsey Weber is one of the CIAs finest undercover agents. After two years under deep cover in Salman Nassars desert compound, shes unearthed vital information on the volatile Middle Eastern extremist sect. When her allegiance is called into question, Nassar teaches her a...  more

Twenty eight year old Kelsey Weber is one of the CIAs finest undercover agents. After two years under deep cover in Salman Nassars desert compound, shes unearthed vital information on the volatile Middle Eastern extremist sect. When her allegiance is called into question, Nassar teaches her a lesson she wont forget with a bullet to the leg. Kelsey is whisked out of the field to recuperate in the safety of her missionary parents empty Virginia home. But civilian life proves to be more complicated than Kelsey anticipated when she meets FBI agent Noah Cabbott, the handsome neighbor tasked by her parents with safeguarding the family home in their absence. As their relationship deepens, she s torn by her inability to divulge who and what she really is. In a twist of fate, their separate investigations converge in a horrifying plot that threatens the nation s security, and Kelsey s identity is revealed. She and Noah have been assigned as members of a secret task force, united with one common goal: to thwart Nassar s impending terrorist attack. As the situation grows increasingly dire, she is horrified to learn that there is a traitor in their midst: An agency mole has been leaking information to the enemy. Kelsey s world is thrown into chaos with the shocking realization that nothing is as it seems, and each step toward the truth draws her deeper into aweb of conspiracy more intricate and deadly than she dreamed

Rebecca "Bex" Levy, researcher and aspiring producer for the 24 / 7 television network, knows the inside story on everything from sequins and sprains to scandals. But she's never seen a deadly crossover like this one... ON EDGE Bex has finally scored her first official...  more

Rebecca "Bex" Levy, researcher and aspiring producer for the 24 / 7 television network, knows the inside story on everything from sequins and sprains to scandals. But she's never seen a deadly crossover like this one... ON EDGE Bex has finally scored her first official producing assignment, covering a tribute to figure skater and coach Lucian Pryce. She's shooting footage of Lucian on the ice when he takes a bad fall -- and dies. It seems to be just a tragic accident, until Bex discovers that his skates had been tampered with. In his fifty years in the sport, Lucian made his share of skating headlines and champions -- and enemies. With suspects including family, an ex-skating partner, and a couple of former students, Bex is going to have to execute a perfect investigation...

Meet four women who think they share nothing but a spit of land called Happiness Key. With her husband in prison, pampered Tracy Deloche is left with five ramshackle beach houses and no idea how to start over. Janya Kapur left her close-knit Indian family for an arranged marriage to a man...  more

Meet four women who think they share nothing but a spit of land called Happiness Key. With her husband in prison, pampered Tracy Deloche is left with five ramshackle beach houses and no idea how to start over. Janya Kapur left her close-knit Indian family for an arranged marriage to a man she barely knows. Wanda Gray takes a job guaranteed to destroy her already failing marriage -- if her husband cares enough to notice. Widow Alice Brooks has grown forgetful and confused. Her family comes to stay with her, but Alice isn't sure she's grateful. When the only other resident of Happiness Key dies alone in his cottage, the four women warily join forces to find his family. Together they discover difficult truths about their own lives and the men they love -- and uncover the treasure of an unlikely friendship.

Clairvoyant private eye Abigail Cooper is excited to marry her beau, but planning the affair has never been her first love. So when Abby hears of a case involving a missing young mother, she’s ready to escape the world of wedding details and engage in some serious psychic...  more

Clairvoyant private eye Abigail Cooper is excited to marry her beau, but planning the affair has never been her first love. So when Abby hears of a case involving a missing young mother, she’s ready to escape the world of wedding details and engage in some serious psychic sleuthing.   TROUBLE CAN COME IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE….   When a mysterious client approaches Abby about a young mother who’s vanished, Abby is more than willing to get involved. After all, it’s the perfect distraction from dealing with the headache of her sister, Cat -- who has flown into town and turned Abby and Dutch’s impending nuptials into Weddingpalooza.   After Abby recruits her business partner and BFF, Candice, to assist, they meet with the parents of the missing woman. But the parents refuse to put their faith in a psychic. What’s worse, the family suspects Abby has a connection to their daughter’s husband -- the man they believe to be responsible for her disappearance.   With the family blind to the truth and a potential killer in her sights, Abby is determined to keep her eyes wide open…. 

Welcome to Apple Grove, Ohio (pop. 597), a small town with a big heart. Caitlin Mulcahy loves her family. She really does. But sometimes they can drive her to her last shred of sanity -- from her dad ("I'm not meddling, I just want what's best for you") to her...  more

Welcome to Apple Grove, Ohio (pop. 597), a small town with a big heart. Caitlin Mulcahy loves her family. She really does. But sometimes they can drive her to her last shred of sanity -- from her dad ("I'm not meddling, I just want what's best for you") to her eight-months-pregnant older sister to her younger sister, who will do just about anything to avoid real work. Cait just needs to get away, even if for only an hour. When she sees someone in need of help on the side of the road, of course she's going to pull over. She might even be able to fix his engine -- after all, the Mulcahy family is a handy bunch. She's not expecting that former Navy medic Jack Gannon and a little black puppy named Jameson will be the ones who end up rescuing in her.

Back in high school, Liz Sutton was the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Then she’d stolen the heart of the most popular boy in town, and their secret romance helped her through the worst of times. Until Ethan Hendrix betrayed her and everything they’d ever meant to each...  more

Back in high school, Liz Sutton was the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Then she’d stolen the heart of the most popular boy in town, and their secret romance helped her through the worst of times. Until Ethan Hendrix betrayed her and everything they’d ever meant to each other. Devastated and pregnant, Liz left Fool’s Gold, California -- forever, she thought… Now Liz must return to town and face the man who doesn’t know of their son’s existence. And this time she won’t have the option of making a quick getaway. Ethan and Liz can’t deny their passionate attraction, even after all these years. But will their desire be enough to spark a second chance at love?

Pia was your typical popular girl in high school -- she made friends easily, cheered on the squad, and had her share of dates with the school jocks. But she’s always had a hard time committing to something, or someone. So when her best friend Crystal succumbs to cancer, Pia is...  more

Pia was your typical popular girl in high school -- she made friends easily, cheered on the squad, and had her share of dates with the school jocks. But she’s always had a hard time committing to something, or someone. So when her best friend Crystal succumbs to cancer, Pia is devastated, but also shocked by the inheritance her friend has left her -- her frozen embryos! Pia’s in a quandary. It’s not like she can just throw them away. But is she really capable of being responsible for another human being? For once, Pia throws caution to the wind and decides to embrace Crystal’s legacy. But as she struggles with her decision, another complication arises that Pia is totally unprepared for. She finally meets the man of her dreams … and her life becomes more confusing than she ever thought possible.

Avery Delaney has always tried to put the past far behind her. Abandoned by her rapacious, conniving mother when she was only three days old, Avery was raised by her grandmother and beloved aunt Carolyn. Then, when she was eleven, she witnessed her grandmother?s violent death, before Avery...  more

Avery Delaney has always tried to put the past far behind her. Abandoned by her rapacious, conniving mother when she was only three days old, Avery was raised by her grandmother and beloved aunt Carolyn. Then, when she was eleven, she witnessed her grandmother?s violent death, before Avery herself was shot and left for dead. Miraculously she survived. The man responsible is serving time in a Florida prison. This traumatic experience propels Avery into a life of law and order. Her razor-sharp mind and ability to gather data and decipher evidence has made Avery an expert crime analyst for the FBI. But soon she will have to use every one of her adroit skills on a case that hits painfully close to home. Avery's workaholic aunt, Carolyn Salvetti, is certain her (hopefully soon-to-be ex) husband sent her the gold embossed reservation to the posh Utopia Spa in the mountains of Colorado. At first she is resistant, but then figures it will be a welcome respite from the cutthroat advertising business, not to mention a networking extravaganza. Plus she persuades her niece to join her for the two weeks of luxury and decadence. But Carolyn never makes it to Utopia. Under false pretenses, she is taken to an isolated retreat by a handsome stranger with a dazzling smile, suave demeanor, and the darkest of motives. His name is Monk, a hired assassin. Now, with scant clues and fewer resources, Avery must track down and save Carolyn -- and outmaneuver a brilliant killer who is part of an elaborate plot of madness and lethal vengeance.

Jordan Buchanan is thrilled that her brother and best friend are tying the knot. The wedding is a lavish affair -- for the marriage of Dylan Buchanan and Kate MacKenna is no ordinary occasion. It represents the joining of two family dynasties. The ceremony and reception proceed without a hitch...  more

Jordan Buchanan is thrilled that her brother and best friend are tying the knot. The wedding is a lavish affair -- for the marriage of Dylan Buchanan and Kate MacKenna is no ordinary occasion. It represents the joining of two family dynasties. The ceremony and reception proceed without a hitch -- until a crasher appears claiming to be a MacKenna guest. The disheveled and eccentric professor of medieval history warns that there's "bad blood" between the couple's clans, stemming from an ancient feud that originated in Scotland, and involving the Buchanan theft of a coveted MacKenna treasure. Jordan has always led a cautious life and has used her intelligence and reason to become a successful businesswoman. So she is intrigued but skeptical of the professor's claims that the feud has been kept alive by the grave injustices the Buchanans have perpetrated over the centuries. But when Noah Clayborne, a close family friend and a man who has never let a good time or a pretty girl pass him by, accuses Jordan of being trapped in her comfort zone, she determines to prove him wrong and sets out on a spontaneous adventure to the small, dusty town of Serenity, Texas, to judge the professor's research for herself. Maneuvering through a close-knit community in which everyone knows everyone else's business, Jordan never anticipates the danger and intrigue that lie in her path, nor the threat that will shadow her back to Boston, where even in familiar surroundings, her life is at risk. A powerful thug who rules by fear, a man who harbors a simmering secret, and an unexpected romance that pierces all defenses -- beloved author Julie Garwood weaves these dazzling elements into a brilliant novel of romantic suspense. Shadow Dance is a searing tango of passion and peril.

She's protected him since the day he was born. Since the day the LIE BEGAN. A long-ago act of kindness to a desperate woman changed Dr. Carrie Overton's life forever. Before disappearing, the grateful stranger given Carrie her newborn son. When the woman is murdered, the secret...  more

She's protected him since the day he was born. Since the day the LIE BEGAN. A long-ago act of kindness to a desperate woman changed Dr. Carrie Overton's life forever. Before disappearing, the grateful stranger given Carrie her newborn son. When the woman is murdered, the secret becomes Carrie's alone. She has kept both it and her son, Sam, safe for sixteen years. But now a friend of Sam's has gone missing. The police believe he's a runaway - until he's found dead. Then another teen disappears, and talk turns to that long-ago murder. Newcomer Gabriel Cain is asking too many questions, befriending Sam, getting too close. Carrie distrusts him even as she finds herself falling for him. But Gabriel has secrets, too... Is it time for the lying to end?

Since she was a little girl, Marisa Angelo has been haunted by the image of her mother walking away, suitcase in hand, to return to her Amish roots. Marisa and her "Englischer" father never saw or heard from her again. Now Marisa has received a shocking call from police. Her...  more

Since she was a little girl, Marisa Angelo has been haunted by the image of her mother walking away, suitcase in hand, to return to her Amish roots. Marisa and her "Englischer" father never saw or heard from her again. Now Marisa has received a shocking call from police. Her mother's bloodstained suitcase was found hidden inside the wall of a Pennsylvania Dutch farmhouse. Desperate for answers, Marisa heads to Lancaster County. But no one -- not the police or Marisa's tight-lipped Amish relatives -- can explain what happened to her mother. Only one man is as determined as Marisa to unravel the mystery -- Link Morgan, the handsome ex-military loner who found the suitcase in the house he inherited from his uncle. Now both Link's and Marisa's family members are implicated in the decades-old disappearance. The secret lies somewhere in the quaint Amish settlement. But someone will do anything to ensure the truth remains hidden forever.

SOMETHING EVIL HAS COME TO AMISH COUNTRY Libby Morgan never wanted to return to Lancaster County.  She'd made her own life in the city as a news photographer, leaving the slow pace of Amish country behind.  She'd left love behind, too, when she fled the old-fashioned ways...  more

SOMETHING EVIL HAS COME TO AMISH COUNTRY Libby Morgan never wanted to return to Lancaster County.  She'd made her own life in the city as a news photographer, leaving the slow pace of Amish country behind.  She'd left love behind, too, when she fled the old-fashioned ways of Adam Byler.  But when a friend in trouble beckons, Libby knows she has no choice.  What she doesn't know is that something sinister awaits her.... For Adam Byler, the traditional ways convey safety and order.  As police chief of Springville, the former marine strives to keep the peace between the Amish and their modern "Englischer" neighbors -- and he will not allow Libby's beauty to distract him from his duties.  But when an innocent woman is attacked, they'll confront a danger more threatening than their growing passion.

It begins with a little red envelope . . . ... the one Jade doesn't want to send. The envelope that invites her mother, Beryl, to her wedding--and opens up more of her past than she cares to deal with. Jade has worked so hard to put her hard-scrabble childhood behind her. And she's found...  more

It begins with a little red envelope . . . ... the one Jade doesn't want to send. The envelope that invites her mother, Beryl, to her wedding--and opens up more of her past than she cares to deal with. Jade has worked so hard to put her hard-scrabble childhood behind her. And she's found everything she wanted in the beautiful green hills of Whisper Hollow, Tennessee. A thriving vintage shop all her own. A lovely one-eyed shepherd dog named Roscoe. And Max, the almost-too-good-to-be-true man she plans to marry in just a few weeks. For the first time in her life, her heart feels at home, and she can't wait to step out into their beautiful future. But can she really have a sweet by and by if she can't come to terms with yesterday? Lose yourself in the novel that readers and critics alike are calling... "Heartwarming"--Publishers Weekly "Enchanting"--New York Times best-selling author Pattie Callahan Henry "Breathtaking"--New York Times best-selling author Robin McGraw "Beautifully real"--actress Eva Longoria

After he accidentally shoots a teenager at a tense standoff, FBI Hostage Rescue Team member Mark Sanders is sent to St. Louis to work as a field agent and get his bearings while the bad press starts to settle. Just weeks away from returning to Quantico to resume his work on the HRT, Mark has a...  more

After he accidentally shoots a teenager at a tense standoff, FBI Hostage Rescue Team member Mark Sanders is sent to St. Louis to work as a field agent and get his bearings while the bad press starts to settle. Just weeks away from returning to Quantico to resume his work on the HRT, Mark has a chance encounter with an old flame, Emily Lawson. But their reunion is cut short by a sniper. Now Mark must find the shooter before he tries to strike again. But what is his motive -- and who was his intended target? Can Mark put the pieces together, keep Emily safe, and rekindle a long-dead relationship at the same time? A fast-paced tale of romance, suspense, and intrigue, An Eye for an Eye is the exciting second installment in the Heroes of Quantico series.

TenHuis Chocolade is wall-to- wall with chocolate hearts for Valentine's Day. But Lee is getting no love from Private Detective Derrick Valentine. He's looking for their employee -- a woman Lee and her Aunt Nettie have been harboring for an underground railroad-type organization...  more

TenHuis Chocolade is wall-to- wall with chocolate hearts for Valentine's Day. But Lee is getting no love from Private Detective Derrick Valentine. He's looking for their employee -- a woman Lee and her Aunt Nettie have been harboring for an underground railroad-type organization that aids abused women. Luckily, they manage to not spill the cocoa beans and clue him in. But the situation becomes a complex confection when Valentine meets his end. And it's Aunt Nettie who becomes a suspect. Lee will have to find a way to free Nettie of guilt without exposing the innocent -- and find a killer with a bitter heart that's definitely not made of chocolate...

Some sins can't be forgiven-because some sins no one survives. Here's a psychopath who lures his victims with a promise no one can resist-and demands a price no one would knowingly pay. Young, vulnerable, attractive, Tessa Gray made the perfect victim. Which was why Noah Bishop of the FBI's...  more

Some sins can't be forgiven-because some sins no one survives. Here's a psychopath who lures his victims with a promise no one can resist-and demands a price no one would knowingly pay. Young, vulnerable, attractive, Tessa Gray made the perfect victim. Which was why Noah Bishop of the FBI's Special Crimes Unit recruited her to play the role of grieving widow. As the supposed new owner of property coveted by the Church of the Everlasting Sin, she'd be irresistible bait for the reclusive and charismatic Reverend Samuel. His fortified compound in the mountains near Grace, North Carolina, had been the last known residence of two women murdered in ways that defied scientific explanation. Though hardly as naive or as vulnerable as she appears, Tessa knows she has a lot to learn about using her unique gift. She also knows that Bishop and the SCU have to be desperate to rely on an untried psychic agent in an undercover operation so dangerous. And desperate they are. For the killer they're hunting is the most terrifying they've ever faced and shakes even the most seasoned agents: a soulless megalomaniacal cult leader who can use their own weapons, talents, and tactics against them. By entering the cult's well-guarded compound, Tessa will be exposing herself to the dark magnetism of a psychopath on an apocalyptic crusade of terror that spares no one, not even the youngest victims. And Samuel has protected himself within a fanatically loyal congregation, many of whom occupy surprising positions of power within the community. Even Grace's chief of police, Sawyer Cavenaugh -- a man Tessa will have to trust with her life -- may be unable to protect her. Because no one, not even Tessa herself, can guarantee she's strong enough to resist -- or powerful enough to battle-a killer who's less than human.

Lesley Kagen returns with the sequel to her national bestselling debut, Whistling in the Dark. Whistling in the Dark captivated readers with the story of ten-year-old Sally O'Malley and her sister, Troo, during Milwaukee's summer of 1959. The novel became a New York Times bestseller and was...  more

Lesley Kagen returns with the sequel to her national bestselling debut, Whistling in the Dark. Whistling in the Dark captivated readers with the story of ten-year-old Sally O'Malley and her sister, Troo, during Milwaukee's summer of 1959. The novel became a New York Times bestseller and was named a Midwest Honor Award winner. In Good Graces, it's one year later, and a heat wave has everyone in the close-knit Milwaukee neighborhood on edge. None more so than Sally O'Malley, who remains deeply traumatized by the sudden death of her daddy and her near escape from a murderer and molester the previous summer. Although outwardly she and her sister, Troo, are more secure, Sally's confidence in her own judgment and much of her faith have been whittled away. When a series of disquieting events unfold in the neighborhood-a string of home burglaries, the escape from reform school of a nemesis, and the mysterious disappearance of an orphan, crimes that may involve the increasingly rebellious Troo-Sally is called upon to rise above her inner demons. She made a deathbed promise to her daddy to keep Troo safe, a promise she can't break, even if her life depends on it. But when events reach a crisis point, will Sally have the courage and discernment to make the right choices? Or will her false assumptions lead her and those she loves into danger once again? Lesley Kagen's gift for imbuing her child narrators with compelling authenticity shines as never before in Good Graces, a novel told with sensitivity, wit, and warmth.

Amber Saxton is a bright young LDS doctor on the cutting edge of twenty-first century medicine.  But when she has a head-on collision with a swinging door, life as she knows it is suddenly reduced to a heart full of searing memories when she awakens in another time and place.  How can...  more

Amber Saxton is a bright young LDS doctor on the cutting edge of twenty-first century medicine.  But when she has a head-on collision with a swinging door, life as she knows it is suddenly reduced to a heart full of searing memories when she awakens in another time and place.  How can she practice modern medicine on a Civil War battlefield -- and how can she get out of this mess?  She longs for her comfortable apartment and her dear little Primary class, but she's trapped in a world that is not her own.  And it's anything but friendly.

Professional dog walker Ellie Engleman doesn't know much about the ins and outs of dog shows. But when one handler is killed, Ellie will learn that it's a dog-eat-dog world. Especially since the killer might now have it out for her. She and her sometime boyfriend, Detective Sam Ryder,...  more

Professional dog walker Ellie Engleman doesn't know much about the ins and outs of dog shows. But when one handler is killed, Ellie will learn that it's a dog-eat-dog world. Especially since the killer might now have it out for her. She and her sometime boyfriend, Detective Sam Ryder, will have to dig up the truth faster than a speeding bulldog...

You know how freaky it is, to expect one taste and get another? Imagine picking up a can of tepid ginger ale and taking a swig of delicious, icy cold peppermint tea. Alice Raymond did just that. And though the tea is exactly what she wants, she bought herself a soda. No, Alice's life...  more

You know how freaky it is, to expect one taste and get another? Imagine picking up a can of tepid ginger ale and taking a swig of delicious, icy cold peppermint tea. Alice Raymond did just that. And though the tea is exactly what she wants, she bought herself a soda. No, Alice's life isn't exactly paint-by-numbers. After breaking things off with her lying, stealing, bum of an ex, she discovered she's pregnant. Motherhood was definitely on her "someday" wish list, but a baby means less time for her art and no time for recent hallucinations that include this switcharoo with the tea. She has to impress her new boss, the ridiculously long-lashed, smoky-eyed Ethan Gallagher, and she has to deal with her family, who have started rambling about gypsy curses. Only a soul-deep bond with the right man can save her and her child. As if being single wasn't pressure enough!

Ever since a master vampire became possessed and bit a bunch of parents, the town of Broken Heart, Oklahoma, has catered to those of us who don't rise until sunset- even if that means PTA meetings at midnight. As for me, Eva LeRoy, town librarian and single mother to a teenage daughter,...  more

Ever since a master vampire became possessed and bit a bunch of parents, the town of Broken Heart, Oklahoma, has catered to those of us who don't rise until sunset- even if that means PTA meetings at midnight. As for me, Eva LeRoy, town librarian and single mother to a teenage daughter, I'm pretty much used to being "vampified." You can't beat the great side effects: no crow's-feet or cellulite! Eva LeRoy, Broken Heart, Oklahoma's librarian, got "vampified" when everyone else did: during a rogue vampire's feeding frenzy. But books still make her undead heart beat-and, strangely enough, so does Lorcan the Loner, the vampire who killed her...

He's not so sure about small town life. She can't imagine living anywhere else. Welcome to Apple Grove, Ohio (population 597), where everyone has your best interests at heart, even if they can't agree on the best way to meddle. When the townsfolk of Apple Grove need handiwork...  more

He's not so sure about small town life. She can't imagine living anywhere else. Welcome to Apple Grove, Ohio (population 597), where everyone has your best interests at heart, even if they can't agree on the best way to meddle. When the townsfolk of Apple Grove need handiwork done, there's no job too small for the Mulcahy sisters: Megan, Caitlin, and Grace. Specializing in hard work and family loyalty, tomboy Meg Mulcahy has left behind any girlhood reams of romance. Enter newcomer Daniel Eagan, looking to bury his own broken heart and make a new start. He's surprised-and delighted-by the winsome girl with the mighty tool belt who shows up to fix his wiring. But Dan's got a lot to learn about life in a small town, and when Meg's past collides with her future, it may take all 595 other residents of Apple Grove to keep this romance from short-circuiting.

Helen Hawthorne is on the run, trying to stay one step ahead of her past -- and one paycheck ahead of disaster. To make it, she jumps from one dead-end job to another. Luckily, she's got a lot of talents -- including one for detection... When Helen Hawthorne takes a job at the upscale...  more

Helen Hawthorne is on the run, trying to stay one step ahead of her past -- and one paycheck ahead of disaster. To make it, she jumps from one dead-end job to another. Luckily, she's got a lot of talents -- including one for detection... When Helen Hawthorne takes a job at the upscale Millicent's Bridal Salon, she expects to see some sentimental tears as brides pick out their gowns. But when a rich, obnoxious mother-of-the-bride named Kiki is killed, it seems most of the tears are fake. When Helen's fingerprints are found on the murder weapon -- a wedding dress -- she must solve the case to prove her innocence. Is the murderer Kiki's money-strapped ex-husband? The bride who finally got tired of letting Mom run the show? The groom whose career is about to be ruined? Or one of the numerous boy toys promised a million dollars in the will? Helen better find out quick -- and make sure Kiki's funeral outfit doesn't clash with the groom's mother's...

With a resume that includes attempted assault and alimony evasion, Helen Hawthorne has no choice but to take on a series of dead-end jobs to make ends meet. At the Pampered Pet Boutique, Helen hustles a selection of canine cuisine and couture that beats anything in her own fridge or closet. And...  more

With a resume that includes attempted assault and alimony evasion, Helen Hawthorne has no choice but to take on a series of dead-end jobs to make ends meet. At the Pampered Pet Boutique, Helen hustles a selection of canine cuisine and couture that beats anything in her own fridge or closet. And when Helen goes to deliver a dog to a client, she finds the blonde trophy wife stretched out naked by her pool, a pair of ten-inch grooming scissors sticking out of her chest. Later that same day, a valuable labradoodle puppy is kidnapped from the boutique. All eyes turn to Helen as the main suspect, and with a hurricane headed straight for South Florida, Helen's got to find the killer and come clean, or else her new life will be gone with the wind.

Women would kill for Josie Marcus's job as mystery shopper, which takes her in and out of boutiques, supermarkets, even fast-food joints to report on quality and service. But it's hard work. Besides being a single mom to a nine-year-old, Josie is the undercover shopping police, protecting...  more

Women would kill for Josie Marcus's job as mystery shopper, which takes her in and out of boutiques, supermarkets, even fast-food joints to report on quality and service. But it's hard work. Besides being a single mom to a nine-year-old, Josie is the undercover shopping police, protecting unsuspecting consumers everywhere. And she never falsifies her reports, even if it's a matter of life, death, or a red-tag sale ... Ah, the Danessa Celedine handbag. To have one is to invite envy and flaunt wealth, with each bag costing upward of five thousand dollars. When a large company considers paying millions for use of the Danessa name, Josie's hired to inspect the designer's stores anonymously. And each boutique is worse than the one before. Her less than stellar report provokes threats of a lawsuit ...until Danessa is strangled with one of her own thousand-dollar snakeskin belts. Josie better bag the killer before she winds up in an ugly jailhouse outfit herself...

Someone has killed Halley Hardwicke, the hot young designer of thousand-dollar Italian silk scarves, in the mall parking lot-and police have their eye on Jake, the husband of Josie's best friend Alyce. The couple lived near the wrap maven, but it seems Halley and Jake were a little too...  more

Someone has killed Halley Hardwicke, the hot young designer of thousand-dollar Italian silk scarves, in the mall parking lot-and police have their eye on Jake, the husband of Josie's best friend Alyce. The couple lived near the wrap maven, but it seems Halley and Jake were a little too neighborly. So Josie decides to do what she does best to help out her friend-go undercover and see if she can find some clues. Because this time, there's a lot more at stake than a scarf, even if it's to die for...

Mystery shopper Josie Marcus doesn't get the appeal of the year-round Christmas shop. But when three such holiday houses pop up within two blocks, she's assigned to rate them anonymously. Easy enough, Josie thinks, until she realizes that shoppers at one store are finding a strange - even deadly...  more

Mystery shopper Josie Marcus doesn't get the appeal of the year-round Christmas shop. But when three such holiday houses pop up within two blocks, she's assigned to rate them anonymously. Easy enough, Josie thinks, until she realizes that shoppers at one store are finding a strange - even deadly - secret ingredient in their holiday cake. And Josie must get to the bottom of it all before someone else becomes a Christmas spirit.

Georgia magistrate MacLaren Yarbrough investigates the murder of a dear family friend-and uncovering more dark secrets about their lives than she ever wanted to know.

When ex–Vegas showgirl and local business owner Bunny Reid starts an online dating service called Cupid’s Cat’s Meow, out-of-town visitors flock to her bowling alley for the speed dating and cat show events that she hosts to bring in extra cash. Bunny’s scheme sounds...  more

When ex–Vegas showgirl and local business owner Bunny Reid starts an online dating service called Cupid’s Cat’s Meow, out-of-town visitors flock to her bowling alley for the speed dating and cat show events that she hosts to bring in extra cash. Bunny’s scheme sounds harmless enough, but school psychologist Skye Denison knows all too well that an influx of strangers in Scumble River always spells trouble…. Meanwhile, Skye is convinced that her house is haunted and is afraid her fiancé, police chief Wally Boyd, won’t move in until the ghost moves out. But ghost-hunting takes a back seat when Skye is called to the bowling alley, where a riled up contestant is choking a cat show judge for insulting his feline. Skye breaks up the scuffle, but the next morning the judge’s dead body is found, strangled with a cat toy. Now Skye must solve this purrplexing mystery -- and show a devious killer that her sleuthing skills are the cat’s meow.

Lois Meade's daughter was admittedly considering leaving her partner, Rob-but she never expected him to be found badly beaten and left for dead in a ditch by the side of the road. When Rob tragically dies from his injuries without regaining consciousness, Inspector Cowgill has a murder...  more

Lois Meade's daughter was admittedly considering leaving her partner, Rob-but she never expected him to be found badly beaten and left for dead in a ditch by the side of the road. When Rob tragically dies from his injuries without regaining consciousness, Inspector Cowgill has a murder investigation on his hands, and once again he engages the assistance of the woman he respects above all others-Lois. Suspicion quickly falls on the traveling gypsies who are camped out on Alf Smith's property. There is strong prejudice among many in the village who consider the gypsies no better than tramps and thieves. Lois must follow a twisted path that leads to arson, local delinquents, secret assignations, and blackmail-before she can discover who's been tinkering with the truth...

She's worked through all the days of the week, turning up clues and scrubbing up both messes and murderers in the village of Long Farnden. But crime is a persistent stain... Magistrate Mrs. Tollervey-Jones represents the upper crust of the village, although nowadays she lives alone at...  more

She's worked through all the days of the week, turning up clues and scrubbing up both messes and murderers in the village of Long Farnden. But crime is a persistent stain... Magistrate Mrs. Tollervey-Jones represents the upper crust of the village, although nowadays she lives alone at the Farnden Hall estate without a staff. Fortunately, Lois Meade's cleaning company visits twice a week. But Lois's help is needed elsewhere as robberies begin to plague Long Farnden. Lois's own daughter, Josie, is shaken when a thief robs her grocery store till. Good thing Josie's got a policeman for a fiancé -- he's on the culprit's trail soon afterward. Before he can crack the case, though, someone cracks Lois's husband on the head when he stops in to check on Mrs. Tollervey-Jones and interrupts a burglary. Now Lois -- in collaboration again with the besotted Inspector Cowgill -- must determine who cleaned out the magistrate's mansion, and clean up after an increasingly violent crime spree...

She’s had her hands full sorting out both clues and clutter in the village of Long Farnden.  But a mother’s work is never done, and Lois Meade is discovering detective work is both dirty and dangerous…   A wedding is always a happy occasion, even if Lois Meade must...  more

She’s had her hands full sorting out both clues and clutter in the village of Long Farnden.  But a mother’s work is never done, and Lois Meade is discovering detective work is both dirty and dangerous…   A wedding is always a happy occasion, even if Lois Meade must remind herself she isn’t losing a daughter, but gaining a policeman.  Her new son-in-law is in the Tresham force -- and happens to be Inspector Cowgill’s nephew -- so now Lois has another link to the law.   But when her youngest son invites a mysterious woman, Akiko, as a guest, Lois wonders why she refuses to talk about her past.  And when a thief waltzes off with the young woman’s cello, Lois enlists the inspector’s help to find the valuable instrument.   When Akiko herself goes missing, Lois discovers that this could be another in a string of murderous musical thefts. Now she must pull out all the stops to find the girl and protect her son…before the music stops permanently…

A FAUX VAN GOGH When North Carolina antique dealer Abigail Timberlake makes a bid of $150.99 on a truly awful copy of Van Gogh's The Starry Night, she's just trying to win Mama's approval by supporting the church auction. Hopefully, she'll make her money back on the beautiful gold antique...  more

A FAUX VAN GOGH When North Carolina antique dealer Abigail Timberlake makes a bid of $150.99 on a truly awful copy of Van Gogh's The Starry Night, she's just trying to win Mama's approval by supporting the church auction. Hopefully, she'll make her money back on the beautiful gold antique frame. Little does she expect she's bought herself a fortune... and a lot of trouble. A MASTERPIECE TO KILL FOR When her ex-boyfriend shows up and offers ten bucks for the ugly Starry Night, Abby pops the frame and is stunned to discover hidden behind the faux Van Gogh canvas a multi-million dollar lost art treasure. Suddenly she's a popular lady in her old hometown, and her first visit is from Gilbert Sweeney, her schoolyard sweetheart (according to him), who claims the family's painting was donated by mistake. But social calls quickly turn from nice to nasty as it's revealed that the mysterious masterpiece conceals a dark and deadly past and some modern-day misconduct that threatens to rock the Rock Hill social structure to its core. Someone apparently thinks the art is worth killing for, and Abby knows she better get to the bottom of the secret scandal and multiple murders before she ends up buried six feet under a starry night.

Pickled...Then Potted All that remains of Lula Mae Wiggins -- who drowned in a bathtub of cheap champagne on New Year's Eve -- now sits in an alleged Etruscan urn in Savannah, Georgia. Further north, at the Den of Antiquity antique shop in Charlotte, North Carolina, plucky proprietor...  more

Pickled...Then Potted All that remains of Lula Mae Wiggins -- who drowned in a bathtub of cheap champagne on New Year's Eve -- now sits in an alleged Etruscan urn in Savannah, Georgia. Further north, at the Den of Antiquity antique shop in Charlotte, North Carolina, plucky proprietor Abigail Timberlake is astonished to learn that she is the sole inheritor of the Wiggins estate. Late Aunt Lula Mae was, after all, as distant a relative as kin can get. Arriving in picturesque Savannah, Abby makes a couple of startling discoveries. First, that Lula Mae's final resting pot is more American cheap than Italian antique. And second, that there was a very valuable 1793 one-cent piece taped to the inside lid. Perhaps a coin collection worth millions is hidden among the deceased's worldly possessions -- making Lula's passing more suspicious than originally surmised. With the strange appearance of a voodoo priestess coupled with the disturbing disappearance of a loved one -- and with nasty family skeletons tumbling from the trees like acorns -- Abby needs to find her penny auntie's killer p.d.q...or she'll be up to her ashes in serious trouble!

At the annual church chili supper, Reverend Schrock falls face down into his bowl. It seems someone put peanut butter in the chili, knowing full well that he was allergic. As Pennsylvania Dutch Innkeeper Magdalena Yoder investigates, she finds plenty of people who wanted the reverend dead,...  more

At the annual church chili supper, Reverend Schrock falls face down into his bowl. It seems someone put peanut butter in the chili, knowing full well that he was allergic. As Pennsylvania Dutch Innkeeper Magdalena Yoder investigates, she finds plenty of people who wanted the reverend dead, including a serial monogamist with a grudge and a wrongly-accused man whom the reverend testified against. As more motives emerge, Magdalena struggles to find the truth amidst evidence that is all too quickly becoming a five-alarm frenzy.

Memorials are murder! All antiques and no play make Abby a dull girl. So Abigail Timberlake Washburn takes a hiatus from her Charleston shop and accompanies best male friend, Rob, to the "wake" of his loco Aunt Jerry—who, as it happens, is nowhere near deceased, but will be...  more

Memorials are murder! All antiques and no play make Abby a dull girl. So Abigail Timberlake Washburn takes a hiatus from her Charleston shop and accompanies best male friend, Rob, to the "wake" of his loco Aunt Jerry—who, as it happens, is nowhere near deceased, but will be soon according to her trusted psychic. Watching the crazy, caustic old gal gleefully disowning assembled relatives left and right is a hoot and a half . . . until Aunt Jerry turns up truly dead in the deep freeze with a priceless emerald ring missing from her lifeless finger. And wouldn't you know, Abby's the prime suspect! Spunky Ms. Timberlake's not about to let herself be railroaded into prison. And neither are her loyal family and friends, including dear, ditzy mother Mozella, ex-sister-in-law C.J., and best female friend, Wynnell. But they may be more hindrance than help in Abby's desperate hunt for a lost stone and a stone-cold killer among an increasingly vicious family circle.

Magdalena Yoder solves a case of hotcake homicide. During a church breakfast, Minerva J. Jay, known for her prodigious appetite, slumps over after ingesting several stacks of pancakes. Police Chief Chris Ackerman wonders if the serving of the fatal flapjacks is a case of assault and batter....  more

Magdalena Yoder solves a case of hotcake homicide. During a church breakfast, Minerva J. Jay, known for her prodigious appetite, slumps over after ingesting several stacks of pancakes. Police Chief Chris Ackerman wonders if the serving of the fatal flapjacks is a case of assault and batter. Magdalena has her own bun in the oven, but that doesn't stop the chief from asking for her help with the investigation. Before Magdalena can begin, however, she has to make a special delivery of her own -- and just when she thinks she's found her number one suspect, he turns up dead, squished flatter than a pancake by a driverless cement truck. Now, to stop the killer from cooking up another crime, Magdalena has no choice but to jump from the frying pan into the fire.

TANGLED UP IN MURDER... Excited about her latest writing assignment, Megan persuades the Murder by the Yard book group to accompany her on her research. Few of the bibliophiles have ever heard of string figures -- a pastime familiar to all children who’ve configured the cat’s cradle...  more

TANGLED UP IN MURDER... Excited about her latest writing assignment, Megan persuades the Murder by the Yard book group to accompany her on her research. Few of the bibliophiles have ever heard of string figures -- a pastime familiar to all children who’ve configured the cat’s cradle -- but there’s plenty of intrigue to satisfy the curious mystery lovers. A valuable, unpublished manuscript about the beloved hobby is missing -- and its owner found dead. Now Megan and the rest of the group are out to find the culprit -- before someone else comes to the end of their rope.

The Murder by the Yard group has been going strong for six months, and Megan Clark is eager to celebrate -- and increase membership.  For fun and publicity, she volunteers her friend, Dr. Ryan Stevens, to lead tours of famous Amarillo murder sites.  One of the sites, The Gorman estate,...  more

The Murder by the Yard group has been going strong for six months, and Megan Clark is eager to celebrate -- and increase membership.  For fun and publicity, she volunteers her friend, Dr. Ryan Stevens, to lead tours of famous Amarillo murder sites.  One of the sites, The Gorman estate, witnessed the strangling of a young bride and the subsequent suicide of her husband.  The case was never solved -- but one of the Gormans wants to know what really happened, and urges the group to reopen the investigation.  Megan dives into the research with her usual enthusiasm.  But it's soon clear that the killer doesn't take kindly to amateur sleuths -- and that Megan herself, may soon become history...

“NEVER TRUST ANYONE UNDER SEVENTY-FIVE!” That’s the motto of the Gladdy Gold Detective Agency. Don’t laugh: having solved a case of serial murder, Gladdy and her eccentric neighbors are building their reputation between canasta games and pool exercises–hunting...  more

“NEVER TRUST ANYONE UNDER SEVENTY-FIVE!” That’s the motto of the Gladdy Gold Detective Agency. Don’t laugh: having solved a case of serial murder, Gladdy and her eccentric neighbors are building their reputation between canasta games and pool exercises–hunting down everything from lost pocketbooks to missing octogenarians. And when a jealous woman sets them after her wayward husband, and a flasher strikes their retirement complex, two seemingly unrelated cases collide with a third: a series of dastardly murders targeting Florida’s wealthiest wives. But when the girls win tickets for a luxury bingo cruise, they hit the jackpot. Because this ship is carrying not only Florida’s fiercest bingo competitors but also a killer–and it’s up to Gladdy and her friends to stop him before one of them becomes his next victim….

A prominent animal researcher has been hanged. And suspicion has fallen on the Cat Lady?a local biology professor whose obsession with rescuing strays makes her, in some people's minds, capable of murder in defense of animals. But China is a friend of the Cat Lady, and she doesn't agree. This...  more

A prominent animal researcher has been hanged. And suspicion has fallen on the Cat Lady?a local biology professor whose obsession with rescuing strays makes her, in some people's minds, capable of murder in defense of animals. But China is a friend of the Cat Lady, and she doesn't agree. This may have been an act of pure human aggression?

China's herb shop in Pecan Springs wasn't a big business, but it kept her busy. So she brought her taxes to Rosemary Robbins, an accountant who reminded China a bit of her former self - preoccupied, distracted, maybe a bit overstressed. Still, Rosemary always seemed pleasant, and China wished...  more

China's herb shop in Pecan Springs wasn't a big business, but it kept her busy. So she brought her taxes to Rosemary Robbins, an accountant who reminded China a bit of her former self - preoccupied, distracted, maybe a bit overstressed. Still, Rosemary always seemed pleasant, and China wished she could get to know her better. Now, though, the chance is gone. Driving out to Rosemary's house on an errand, China discovers her accountant has been murdered. With one abusive ex-husband and plenty of former clients in the picture, there's no shortage of suspects. And with a vengeful ex-convict on the loose, there's plenty for China to worry about. As the evidence unfolds, China begins to feel that something doesn't add up. And now she's more determined than ever to make the killer pay.

Ex-lawyer and herb-shop proprietor China Bayles stumbles into her latest adventure when she accompanies a friend to a nearby monastery for a peaceful retreat -- and discovers a mystery centering around the death of the Mother Superior.

Lawyer-turned-herbalist China Bayles becomes immersed in mystery, this time during pickle season in Pecan Springs, Texas. When a local pickle heiress turns up dead, it looks like things are not at all kosher. REVIEW; More than just a whodunit...readers will relish this more-sweet-than-sour...  more

Lawyer-turned-herbalist China Bayles becomes immersed in mystery, this time during pickle season in Pecan Springs, Texas. When a local pickle heiress turns up dead, it looks like things are not at all kosher. REVIEW; More than just a whodunit...readers will relish this more-sweet-than-sour adventure. (Booklist)

Literary Times Margot Berglund owns a needlework and wool store called Crewel World. She's fifty-three, a widow and an expert in her field. Her store does very well for a small town, and she is able to support two part time staff as well as other casual workers. Her husband Aaron had been a...  more

Literary Times Margot Berglund owns a needlework and wool store called Crewel World. She's fifty-three, a widow and an expert in her field. Her store does very well for a small town, and she is able to support two part time staff as well as other casual workers. Her husband Aaron had been a wealthy man but despite this she lives a simple life, causing speculation among the town's people. Margot's older sister, Betsy, comes to live with her. When Betsy was young she ran off to join the navy and married a sailor and now her second husband is divorcing her. Betsy seems to be planning to sponge off Margot, she sees living off Margot an easy solution to her problems, at least for the short term. In the idyllic world of Margot there are some problems. Her landlord wants her building so he can build something new and charge more, but Margot has a cheap lease that is good for another four years. So Joe sues Margot regularly and threatens her too, but she has a good lawyer to protect her. She also has a "Wanta be" successor who wants to run her own needlework store in a town that cannot support two. Irene is a little nuts and readily admits that she wants something to happen to Margot so that she can take over. Unfortunately for Irene she has no people skills and is not very successful with the customers. A few nights after her arrival, Betsy comes home and finds Crewel World trashed and Margot murdered. The mystery begins and Betsy takes it into her own hands when she thinks the police aren't doing enough.... Michelle Sawyer

Second in the new series for mystery and needlework fans, this book offers a free cross-stitch pattern and a good yarn. When a skeleton is discovered aboard a historic ferry, the only evidence is a piece of lace-like fabric. But once Betsy Devonshire and the patrons of her needlecraft shop lend...  more

Second in the new series for mystery and needlework fans, this book offers a free cross-stitch pattern and a good yarn. When a skeleton is discovered aboard a historic ferry, the only evidence is a piece of lace-like fabric. But once Betsy Devonshire and the patrons of her needlecraft shop lend a hand, they're sure to stitch together the details of the mystery.

It's a culinary tour de France for Carolyn Blue and her family as they travel through Normandy and the Loire Valley with a group of academics. Where better to write about food than France? But when murder shows up on the menu, Carolyn is once again investigating crime as well as cuisine -- and...  more

It's a culinary tour de France for Carolyn Blue and her family as they travel through Normandy and the Loire Valley with a group of academics. Where better to write about food than France? But when murder shows up on the menu, Carolyn is once again investigating crime as well as cuisine -- and trying to stay one step ahead of a killer with an insatiable appetite. C'est la vie...

Carolyn Blue's trip to San Francisco includes a visit to her mother-in-law, a few earthquake tremors-and a stint in prison as a murder suspect. A column on prison food might make for an interesting change of pace...

Food writer Carolyn gets to challenge her taste-testing skills once again -- this time, in Barcelona. Her first feast is for the eyes-at a modern art museum where her friend Roberta is the resident scholar. There, she catches a performance art piece about death, planted a little too firmly in...  more

Food writer Carolyn gets to challenge her taste-testing skills once again -- this time, in Barcelona. Her first feast is for the eyes-at a modern art museum where her friend Roberta is the resident scholar. There, she catches a performance art piece about death, planted a little too firmly in reality. One of the actors is not acting -- she's dead... as well as a dead-ringer for Roberta. And now, Carolyn is in the middle of a new investigation into a very unsavory crime.

At an opera party in Texas, the artistic director eats some bad guacamole that disagrees with him right to death. A scorned soprano admits to mixing the dish to get back at him for passing her over for her dream role. But Carolyn learns that foul play, not foul food, was the real culprit--and...  more

At an opera party in Texas, the artistic director eats some bad guacamole that disagrees with him right to death. A scorned soprano admits to mixing the dish to get back at him for passing her over for her dream role. But Carolyn learns that foul play, not foul food, was the real culprit--and uncovers some unsavory secrets that lead to a full menu of suspects.

Wedding bells will be ringing in Weatherford, Texas, this Christmas when Phyllis Newsom opens up her home for her best friend’s wedding. And although the bride is wearing white, no one suspects that she’ll soon be wearing black....   After all the planning -- and the cake...  more

Wedding bells will be ringing in Weatherford, Texas, this Christmas when Phyllis Newsom opens up her home for her best friend’s wedding. And although the bride is wearing white, no one suspects that she’ll soon be wearing black....   After all the planning -- and the cake tasting -- the big day has finally arrived. Eve Turner, one of Phyllis’s boarders -- and her best friend -- is moving out and getting married to the affable Roy Porter. While she’s sad to see Eve go, Phyllis is more than happy to host the event in her home and to bake the bride and groom a delicious three-tiered coconut wedding cake. Even though a snowstorm in the forecast seems like a recipe for disaster, the day runs as smoothly as buttercream.    But the marriage doesn’t last long past the honeymoon. When Roy’s found dead at a Weatherford bed-and-breakfast, Eve’s the top suspect. Now Phyllis must find out who iced Roy before her friend finds herself behind bars….   Includes recipes!

It’s time for the State Fair of Texas -- and cooking contests galore! Fryers are heating up, and stomachs are growling. But Phyllis Newsom had better watch out. Someone’s brought an appetite for murder....   Phyllis and her friends Carolyn and Sam are ready to whip up their...  more

It’s time for the State Fair of Texas -- and cooking contests galore! Fryers are heating up, and stomachs are growling. But Phyllis Newsom had better watch out. Someone’s brought an appetite for murder....   Phyllis and her friends Carolyn and Sam are ready to whip up their best dishes and win some ribbons in Dallas. And they’re excited to learn that one of their favorite celebrity chefs -- Joye Jameson of The Joye of Cooking -- is broadcasting her TV show from the fair. When Phyllis’s funnel cake is picked as one of the best of that category, Joye invites her and the other finalists to prepare their delicious recipes live on the air.   But Phyllis’s moment in the spotlight is spoiled after Joye suffers a deadly allergic reaction from one bite of her funnel cake. Now she’s gone from top entry to top suspect. So in order to clear her name, Phyllis will have to turn up the heat on this investigation before the real killer slips through her fingers….

It’s Halloween in Weatherford, Texas -- which means Phyllis Newsom is baking up a storm of yummy seasonal treats...but she’s about to get even busier unmasking a killer.  While Phyllis and her friend Carolyn are preparing for a baking contest, her housemate Sam adopts Buck,...  more

It’s Halloween in Weatherford, Texas -- which means Phyllis Newsom is baking up a storm of yummy seasonal treats...but she’s about to get even busier unmasking a killer.  While Phyllis and her friend Carolyn are preparing for a baking contest, her housemate Sam adopts Buck, an adorable Dalmatian who was hit by a car. To thank local veterinarian Hank Baxter for helping the dog, Phyllis and Carolyn bake a batch of doggie treats for his other four-legged patients. But when they arrive at the clinic, the vet is in the process of being arrested -- for the murder of his wife! Convinced that the police are barking up the wrong tree and that someone’s been burying evidence, Sam begs Phyllis to help find the real killer. Joined by Buck, the friends engage in a dogged pursuit of the murderer, who will stop at nothing to muzzle them…permanently. Includes Recipes

Tis the season in Weatherford, Texas, and everyone in town is gearing up for the annual holiday parade and tree-lighting ceremony in the town square, where Phyllis Newsom will be serving her much-anticipated candy cane cupcakes. Local rancher Barney McCrory manages to charm one away from her...  more

Tis the season in Weatherford, Texas, and everyone in town is gearing up for the annual holiday parade and tree-lighting ceremony in the town square, where Phyllis Newsom will be serving her much-anticipated candy cane cupcakes. Local rancher Barney McCrory manages to charm one away from her before the ceremony begins. But unfortunately, when the minty confection is finished, so is he. This isn't the first time someone has dropped dead after eating one of Phyllis's treats. But when the paramedics determine the rancher was shot, suspicion swiftly falls on McCrory's daughter and her husband who both stand to reap some sweet rewards from his death. Though Phyllis doesn't want to get mixed up in another murder investigation, something about this case doesn't sit right with her. With a little help from a tabloid TV news crew, Phyllis must unwrap the truth and restore good cheer to Weatherford before it's too late Includes recipes

It's late summer in Weatherford, Texas and Mike Newsom's childhood friend is sweltering in prison for a crime he claims he didn't commit, murdering his wife. So instead of asking his mother to please stop investigating a murder, as he usually does, he asks her and Sam to please help...  more

It's late summer in Weatherford, Texas and Mike Newsom's childhood friend is sweltering in prison for a crime he claims he didn't commit, murdering his wife. So instead of asking his mother to please stop investigating a murder, as he usually does, he asks her and Sam to please help his friend. Danny Jackson, found guilty of beating his wife Roxanne to death at the ritzy hair salon where she works, was sentenced to prison for 30 years. His pleas of innocence fell on deaf ears, so it's up to Phyllis to find what actually happened. She finds there are a lot of secrets and lies being told, and Roxanne was in the middle of them all. Though Phyllis doesn't want to get mixed up in another murder investigation, her son rarely asks for favors, and certainly not favors like this. She has to untangle the lies and comb out the facts to find what happened that dark night. Includes recipes!

The chili in Texas is red-hot . . . and so is murder! Phyllis, Sam, Carolyn, and Eve head for West Texas to compete in a Fourth of July chili cookoff. Thousands of people have descended on a sleepy little ghost town, turning it into a boomtown for chili mavens, gamblers, musicians, and media....  more

The chili in Texas is red-hot . . . and so is murder! Phyllis, Sam, Carolyn, and Eve head for West Texas to compete in a Fourth of July chili cookoff. Thousands of people have descended on a sleepy little ghost town, turning it into a boomtown for chili mavens, gamblers, musicians, and media. Raucous excitement fills the air, but so does chili when a sabotaged propane cooker explodes, killing the much-hated current champion.  The victim leaves behind a tangled trail of sleeping with other men’s wives, cheating at cards – and maybe at chili cooking – and deadly anger. With Sam a possible suspect in the murder, emotions run hot as a bowl of Texas red as Phyllis has to untangle these threads in order to put her finger on the killer!